- The president says “every Pakistani became a soldier” when war was imposed.
- Affirms that Pakistan is now recognized globally as a force for peace and stability.
- He claims that Pakistan helped facilitate the ceasefire between the United States and Iran through diplomacy.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday honored the nation and the armed forces on the first anniversary of Marka-e-Haq, praising the military leadership for providing what he described as a resolute, calculated and disciplined response to external aggression.
In a statement issued by the media wing of the presidency, the president described Field Marshal Asim Munir’s leadership, strategy and “courageous decisions” as instrumental in the success of the operation. He also commended Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu and the Pakistan Air Force for their “outstanding skills and professional excellence”, while commending Admiral Naveed Ashraf and the naval forces for maintaining full operational readiness and strong defense capabilities.
President Zardari said the events of April and May last year were not just a military episode but a moment of national reflection. “When India, under the cover of false flag operation Pahalgam, launched unprovoked strikes on our soil targeting civilian areas as well as military installations, Pakistan responded with discipline, precision, courage and unity,” he said.
The President said Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, described as the decisive centerpiece of the Marka-e-Haq, had demonstrated the capabilities of the Pakistani armed forces when backed by national unity. “Our response was calibrated, measured, precise and proportionate. Our message was unambiguous,” he said, adding that Marka-e-Haq showed the world that Pakistan’s deterrence was based on professional competence, tri-service coordination and the unwavering resolve of its people. Paying tribute to the armed forces and martyrs, President Zardari said that every Pakistani became a soldier when war was imposed on the country. “It is part of our DNA that when a war is imposed on us, every Pakistani becomes a soldier – some in uniform and most without uniform,” he remarked.
The President said Pakistan was now recognized globally as a state capable of not only defending itself but also contributing to peace and stability. Referring to recent tensions in West Asia, he said Pakistan had played a key diplomatic role in facilitating a ceasefire between the United States and Iran and encouraging both sides to negotiate. “Our efforts prevented further bloodshed and helped stabilize the broader regional environment,” he said, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to promoting peace, dialogue and stability.
On the Kashmir conflict, the president said no honest assessment of South Asia’s security challenges could ignore this problem, which he described as the root cause of regional instability.
President Zardari also criticized India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, calling it “weaponization of water.” He stressed that the treaty, negotiated by the World Bank and signed in 1960, had survived wars and decades of hostility between two nuclear-armed neighbors. “It was designed to be beyond the reach of political crises,” he said, adding that India’s unilateral decision to suspend the deal lacked legal basis and threatened the livelihoods of millions of people. “Water is not a bargaining chip,” the president said, reiterating that Pakistan would defend its water rights with the same determination it showed in defending its territory.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s stance against terrorism, President Zardari said that the country itself remained a victim of terrorism and was determined to eliminate ‘Fitna al-Khawarij’ and ‘Fitna al-Hindustan’ in all forms.
